Marvel Studios
Unfortunately, my girlfriend is big into TikTok. Truth be told, it isn’t hard to see why. The fact is that in the age of ever-decreasing attention spans, it’s a wildly entertaining app. Entertaining enough for me to use it personally? Absolutely not. But to each their own.
The point about my girlfriend is that I’m generally aware of TikTok trends despite not actually having the app, including this latest one that sees people telling their boomer parents that a celebrity has died.
When I first saw the videos, it was usually random grandmothers being informed that people like Dolly Parton and Robert Redford had passed away. Cruel, yes, but ultimately harmless because these people have no tangible connection to the person other than their appreciation for their art and/or celebrity status. What Angela Bassett’s son did to her, though, is completely different for a few reasons.
Angela Bassett’s son joined in on the fake celebrity death announcement TikTok trend, and told her that Michael B. Jordan passed away. pic.twitter.com/0gO43k6m5G
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 31, 2022
Not only does Bassett — who some, myself included, believe deserves an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — actually know Michael B. Jordan personally, but she’s already lived through the traumatic experience of being told that Chadwick Boseman had passed away.
After the video went viral for all the wrong reason, Bassett’s son then posted a second video of him delivering a tearful apology.
“I would sincerely like to apologize to Michael B. Jordan’s entire family, his extended family, and him directly as he is an idol of mine,” Vance said. “Taking part in a trend like this is completely disrespectful. I don’t wish any bad ramifications of this of my actions upon his family nor my parents as they deserve none of the backlash.”
Angela Bassett’s son, Slater Vance, has issued an apology to Michael B. Jordan and more in new TikTok. pic.twitter.com/asGfzLw5dj
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 1, 2023
To be fair to the kid, he’s far from the first nor the last 16-year-old to make a silly mistake, so let’s all be sure to remember that.
According to reports, Wakanda Forever will begin streaming on Disney+ on Wednesday, February 1.
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